Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by a Diesenhaus Unitours representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Overnight Tel-Aviv
Drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the Crusaders’ city and the Roman port, aqueduct and the amphitheater that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue.
Proceed to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archaeological excavations, including the well-preserved water supply system. Continue to Daliat-el-Carmel, a Druze village, and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant.
Proceed via Mount Carmel to Haifa for a panoramic view of the Haifa bay and the golden-domed Bahai shrine and gardens. Overnight in a kibbutz guesthouse.
Drive to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism, where you will visit the ancient synagogues and the artists’ colony. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin.
Stop at the Golan Winery for a tour and wine tasting, then proceed to “Golan Magic” for a multimedia presentation of the area and its history. Overnight in a kibbutz guesthouse.
Start the day with a visit to Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation. Continue to Tiberias, then visit Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal Church of St. Peter, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
Drive via Beit Shean to Beit Alpha to see the remains of the mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Start the day with a magnificent panoramic view from the Mount of Olives. Drive to the Old City to visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper on Mt. Zion. Enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter.
Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Quarter, and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Continue to Bethlehem*: view Rachel’s Tomb and proceed to visit the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Drive to the Israel Museum to visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed for a tour at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Continue to visit Mount Herzl cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Drive through Mea Shearim, the ultra-orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem, and learn about their unique lifestyle.
In the evening, enjoy a Middle Eastern dinner followed by the spectacular “Sound & Light” show** at the Tower of David Museum. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car.
Continue to the Dead Sea, cover yourself with the mineral-rich mud, and experience a swim in the Dead Sea** that many believe has therapeutic effects. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Travel south through the Negev desert. Stop at Timna, a large geological and archaeological park — marvel at the multi-colored rock formations and copper mines, and view the outstanding Solomon’s Pillars.
Continue to Eilat, the southernmost resort city on the shores of the Red Sea. Visit the Underwater Observatory marine park, built into a coral reef, and enjoy the opportunity for a close-up look at the rich life of the Gulf of Eilat. Overnight in Eilat.
After assistance with a visa at the Jordanian border, drive straight to Petra, the astonishing rose-red city built by the Nabateans (an early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels.
The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback ride for about 700m until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2km long (walking distance). Petra is famous for its huge monuments, such as the Treasury, royal tombs, the court, Roman theatre, Roman street, Qasr al-Bint (Palace of Pharaoh’s Daughter), and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered the second wonder of the world.
After the visit, time for lunch in a nice restaurant, then drive back to the border. On the way, a short visit to Aqaba with the possibility to stop and take a walk around. Transfer to the border at around 18:00 and cross back to Eilat. Overnight in Eilat.
Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon. Stop to gaze into the Ramon Crater, a geological wonder, then proceed to Sde Boker to see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin Valley.
Stop for a camel ride and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent — learn about Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch.
Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel’s Air Force Museum to view the planes and equipment and hear the story of this brave fighting force. Overnight in Tel-Aviv.
After breakfast, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.
